Duplex plug-in socket device



Sept. 29, 194-2- M, DRAWNG 2,296,839

DUPLEX PLUG-IN SOCKET DEVICE Fil ed Dec. 30, 1959 -INVENTOR ARTHUR M.DRAVING.

ATTORNE Patented Sept. 29, 1942 umreo] sTArs FlC.

DWLEX PLUG-m SQCKET DEVICE Arthur M. Draving, Feasterville, Pa, assignorto Hugh H. Eby, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation oi PennsylvaniaThis invention relates to duplex plug-in socket devices.

While it is not broadly new in the art to provide socket devices withcontacts so arranged as operatively to receive a plurality of differentplug-in devices in alternative selection, yet in the past so far as isknown, such multi-duty socket devices have had independent and distinctfemale contact elements for each or the prongs of the plug-in devices.and increases the cost of the socket devices.

It is among the objects of this invention: to provide a simplifiedcontact having two separate prong receiving portions; to provide asocket with two prong apertures in combination with a single femalecontact element having portions operatively associated with eachaperture to receive and to establish firm electrical contact with a maleprong in either opening; to provide an electrical contact devicearranged for the creation of an electrical contact with prongs in sertedtherein in alternative laterally spaced positions; to provide a contactelement for sockets arranged to establish intimate electrical contactwith either of two prongs of different diameters; to provide a socketelement with two different aperture patterns with female contactelements mounted on the socket overlapping selected apertures from bothpatterns whereby "two plug-in devices having prongs arranged indiiierent patterns may alternatively be associated operatively with thesocket with the prongs in the related apertures of the twopatterns-elec- 'trically engaging] a common contact in the socket; toprovide a socket device arranged to receive in alternation two plug-indevlces'having prongs and different pattern arrangements; to provide asocket device with a single female contact arrangement so disposed inthe socket as alternatively to receive and establish electricalengagement with prongs; of different sizes or positions; to providemulti-duty sockets for plural plug-in devices which may be comprisedeither of a. single or multiple molding or of suitably punched orapertured laminated sheets or combinations of moldings and laminatedsheets; to improve contacts for' socket devices; to provide a socketdevice which shall incorporate in a single unit the practical andefiective functions of two alternatively used sockets of formsheretofore in general use; to provide a socket device in which thenumber of operatively possible positions in which electrical contact maybe established with an inserted prong exceeds the num- This bothcomplicates her of separate and distinct prong receiving contactelements; and many other objects will become more apparent as thedescription proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this description: I

Fig. 1 represents a plan of a. blank from which a female contact,according to one phase of the invention, may be formed.

Figs. 2 and 3 represent respectively the identical double ended femalecontact formed from the blank of Fig. l and arranged to receive prongcontacts of the same diameter but of difierent positioning, and of afurther form of female contact in which the contact-making portions arearranged for the reception of contact prongs of difierent diameters aswell as of different locations.

Fig. 4 represents aplan of a modified form of blank.

Fig. 5 represents a plan of the bent-up contact as formed from the blankof Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 represents a bottom plan of an illustrative form of socket devicewith the contact of Fig. 3 disposed therein. a

Fig. '7 represents a transverse vertical section through the moldedsocket device of Fig. 6 showing the disposition of the contacts in thesocket. v

Fig. 8 represents a' perspective of the completed socket according tothis invention with a' form of plug-in device having one triangularpattern of large prongs operatively aligned with the socket preparatoryto engagement therewith.

Fig. 9 represents a similar perspective of the socket of Fig. 8 with asecondary plug-in device having a modified triangular pattern of smallerdiametered prongs in operative juxtaposition thereto.

Referring to Fig. 1, the generally T shaped blank shown comprises theshank l0, having the suitable soldering aperture H at one end and at theother connecting through the restricted neck 52 with the cross piece Ithaving a central panel portion it substantially aligned with the shankid. The cross piece 53 has side edges I l and i5 generally normal to theend edge 56 and the rear edges ll of the cross piece of the blank.Although the blank of Fig. 1 is shown. as being substantiallysymmetrical it is contemplated that it may be assymetrical so that theportion of the cross piece i3 terminating in the side edge i5 may belonger than the complemental portion ending in the side edge It,especially for the construction of the contact of Fig. 3. It will beunderstood that the end portion or cross piece has the side edges curledup with relation to the central panel H! to form semi-cylindrical sidearms terminating in the respective edges I5 and H which latter arebrought into close but spaced adjacency to each other and to the backingportion comprised of the panel l9 and which when bent so that thebacking portion I9 is perpendicular to the shank It), describes a pairof substantially semi-cylindrical prong embracing members 18 and 20 theaxes of which are normal to the tail [0. The construction of Fig. 3 isalmost exactly like that of Fig. 2 and the parts bear similar referencecharacters with the major distinction being that the prong embracing portion I8 is of greater diameter than the prong embracing portion 20. Asnoted this may be as an incident to the assymetry of the cross piece of1 or as shown in Fig. 3 by reason of the further bend imparted to theportion 20 whereby the edge l4 becomes closer to the backing portion l9than edge l5 of the contact portion IS.

The blank ,of Fig. 4 may be almost exactly like that of Fig. 1 exceptfor the upwardly bent or punched median device 2 I, of such width andgeneral location as may be desired, but in any case by reason of itsside terminals 22 and 23 coacts with the respective edges l5 and I4 tomore nearly circumscribe the prong receiving space so as to enhance thefrictional relation of the prong to the female contact, as will beevident from the disclosure of Fig. 5. It will be seen that the raisedportion 2| of Fig. 4 can be created by a single die stamping operationand that it may take many forms, such as by merely being a.

- tongue separated from the portion IS on three sides instead of on twoas shown, or it may compris a plurality of spaced tongues orprotuberances as by causing the rounded side portions 22 and 23 to bereentrant to form a pair of parallel spaced protuberances or the lik(not shown).

As shown in Fig. 8 the molded base 24 having th slight taperillustrated, comprises a bottom face 25 and a smaller upper face 25. Theupper face is provided with a plurality (illustratively three) largeprong receiving apertures respectively 21, 28 and 30 which pass througha thin shelled wall 3| into th generally laterally extending throughapertures 32, 33 and 34 each of which is of such size as to receive thecontact making portions of the contact of Fig. 3 illustratively. Thelatter being inserted from the bottom are limited in their upward motionby the shoulder formed by th thin shelled upper wall 3 I. The throughaperture 33 communicates with a smaller aperture 35, extending throughthe thin upper wall 3| in predeterminedly spaced relation to the largeropening 30. Similarly the through aperture 34 communicates with asmaller aperture 35. If desired the aperture 32 could also be providedwithasmaller port or aperture, but

in the particular device illustrated this is not necessary so thatpreferably this is left blind. To establish a third smaller aperture ofa predetermined triangular series an individual through small bore oropening 31 is provided close to the large opening 28. The lower surfaceof the lower portion of th molded base 24 is suitably-apertured forlightness and economy of material and'has a controlscrew or rivetreceiving bore or aperture 33 and the lower surface or base comprises anouter rim 40 with an innerrecessed base surface 4| extending through therim 40 in slots 42; The contacts .such as those of Figs 3 or 5 or thelike are inserted in the respective through apertures 32, 33 and 34,

extending outwardly through the slots 42 and each is held in place by afibre plug or washer 43 engaging the recessface 4| and the lowersurfaces of the tails l0 to make a tight completely closed bottom of thesocket. The plug is held tightly in position either by a suitable screwor the like or by means or arivet extending into the opening 33.

It is a feature of importance that th assembled socket be tightly closedat the bottom in order that the socket may be associated with the cellsof a dry battery and anchored in place by suitable pitch or tarsurrounding at least the bottom part of the socket.

In the use of the invention it will be'assumed that as shown in Fig. 8 aform of plug-in device 45 is provided having the three enlarged contactmaking prongs 43, 41 and 48. As shown in Figs. 6 and 8 it will beapparent that the triangular disposition of the prongs and of theenlarged prong apertures 21, 23 and 30 is such that there is only oneposition of adjustment in which the respective prongs can enter therespective enlarged prong apertures intheir pattern arrangement, so thatthe circuit-making is predetermined and as the prongs pass downwardlythrough th respective apertures they enter and are embraced by theenlarged ends l8 of the respective compound contacts as will be clear.Referring to Fig. 9 a secondary plug-in device 50 is shown having thethree prong elements 5|, 52 and 53, of which i1- lustratively prong 53is inert. It will beapparent that the secondary plug-in device can beassociated with the socket with th prongs 5| and 52 in the respectiveapertures 35 and 36 for circuit making purposes while prong 53 entersthe blind or insulated aperture 31 to complete the pattern. The prongs5| and 52 engage the respective small ends 20 of the contacts in anembraced relation and it will be apparent that the contacts cannot yieldmore than an inappreciable amount between the dished fibre disk at thebottom and the shoulder formed by the thin upper wall 3 I.

I claim as my invention:

molded mounting support having at least one pair of spaced apertures inone face permitting the entry of a. prong of a plug-in device in twolaterally spaced parallel positions, the mounting support havingat leastone single recess in the other face and communicating with and common tosaid pair of face apertures and separated therefrom by a thin web offacing material forming an internal shoulder, a contact mounted on thesupport and having integral spaced curved arm portions curving towardeach other from a common backing portion and forming a pair ofprong-receiving channels having substantially parallel spaced axes andarranged to have sliding engagement inthe recesses to abut the shoulderwith the axes of the respective channels extending subwith the solderingtails or terminal members Ill stantially normal to said first mentionedface and with the respective channels in substantial registration withthe respective spaced apertures, said portions arranged to be engagedand to form electrical contact with prongs selectively inserted ineither of said spaced apertures, and means preventing the contact frombeing pushed out of the recess.

2. A socket for plug-in devices comprising a molded mounting supporthaving at least one pair of spaced apertures in one face permitting theentry of a prong of a plug-in device in two laterally spaced parallelpositions, the mounting support having at least one single reces in theother face and communicating with and common to said pair of faceapertures and separated therefrom by a thin web of facing materialforming an internal shoulder, a contact mounted on the support andhaving integral spaced curved arm portions curving toward each otherfrom a common backing portion and forming a pair of prong-receivingchannels having substantially parallel spaced axes and arranged to havesliding engagement in the recesses to abut the shoulder with the axes ofthe respective channels extending substantially normal to said firstmentioned face and with the respective channels in substantialregistration with the respective spaced 'port together.

apertures, said portions arranged to be engaged and to form electricalcontact with prongs selectively' inserted in either of said spacedapertures,'

support and bridging between th skirt and support and underlying thecontact to prevent the contact from being pushed out of the aperture,and means anchoring the disc and th axial sup- ARTH'UR M. DRAVING.

